At least one woman was seriously injured and several others nursing minor injuries after a tree uprooted and fell on a structure which they were under at Success, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
These women are among the persons squatting on lands at Success belonging to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) that were vested to the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).
The tree that was uprooted at the Success squatting area, ECD
According to reports from the Guyana Police Force, the incident occurred sometime around 14:10h on Friday. The police said, “…several persons who are currently squatting on the lands belonging to NICIL were sitting in a makeshift structure on a dam running east to west conversing when a huge tree fell on top of the structure injuring eight females who were in close proximity.”
However, only one of the women was “seriously injured” in the incident. She was picked up by the police and transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). The other seven injured women also sought medical attention for minor injuries.
While the police did not disclose the extent of the serious injuries sustained by one of the women, they did note, however, that the women collectively sustained “serious and minor injuries to the head, feet, arm and other parts of their bodies…”
The injured women have been identified as 25-year-old Dallyan Donald of lot 72 Quamina Street, Beterverwagting (BV), ECD; Shevon Bell, 34, of Lot 154 Fifth Street, Success; 33-year-old Pinky Benjamin of Lot 6 Success; Smart (only name given) of Vryheid’s Lust, ECD; 46-year-old Sunita Persaud; Nafeeza Persaud of Lot 28 Industry, ECD; 47-year-old Nalini Lall of Lot 9 Industry, and Sonia Nazir, 40, of Lot 254 Third Field Cummings Lodge, ECD.
The police said their conditions are being monitored.
According to the police, no work was ongoing by GuySuCo in that area at the time of the incident.
Squatters have been occupying lands in various communities along the East Coast of Demerara including at Vryheid’s Lust, Success, and Chateau Margot. However, with GuySuCo now embarking on efforts to revitalise the sugar industry by reopening three estates closed by the APNU/AFC regime including the East Demerara Estate (Enmore), which is expected to recommence operations early 2022, attempts have been made to remove the squatters from the lands.
In fact, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) has visited the area to commence the land application process for unlawful occupants, so that they could be eligible for a house lot. Arrangements are being made for other parcels of land to be made available.
But still many are refusing to relocate from the squatting areas.
GuySuCo had previously disclosed that some 17,000 varieties of sugarcane have been damaged by the squatters in those areas along the East Coast of Demerara. With land tillage expected to commence in January, the sugar corporation, two weeks ago, flooded the field including the area where the squatters are occupying at Success.
Temporary shelter
However, Government has offered these persons temporary shelter at Graham’s Hall Primary School to relocate. The facility was prepared for occupancy.
While persons had initially rejected the offer, a total of 12 persons including three children are now being housed at the temporary emergency shelter.
Director General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig told Guyana Times on Friday that there are two girls and one boy along with three adult females and six adult males currently taking up occupancy at the school.
At the facility, strict COVID-19 guidelines and protocols are enforced and meals, hygiene products, sleeping, bathing and other facilities are provided. The shelter could accommodate 48 persons, but has the capacity to house more than 150 persons with the necessary spacing requirements in keeping with the COVID-19 guidelines.
The CDC is further encouraging the other displaced Success squatters to make use of the shelter at Graham’s Hall Primary School and contact the National Emergency Management System (NEMS) on 226-1114, 623-1700 and 600-7500 for occupancy.
